Apple MacBook Pro 13 2019 vs Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018 Comparison

Laptop to replace

 Change

Apple MacBook Pro 13 2019

13.3 inches | July 2019

Speed 2.5

Size 9

Display 5.5

Gaming 1.5

CHECK AT AMAZON

 Change

Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018

15.4 inches | July 2018

Speed 3

Size 8

Display 5.5

Gaming 1.5

CHECK AT AMAZON

Apple MacBook Pro 13 2019 vs Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018 Comparison Overview

Apple MacBook Pro 13...

See at AMAZON

Apple MacBook Pro 15...

See at AMAZON

Apple MacBook Pro 13...

See at AMAZON

Apple MacBook Pro 15...

See at AMAZON

In this review, we will be comparing MacBook Pro 13 2019 and MacBook Pro 15 2018, two laptops by Apple. Apple MacBook Pro 13 2019 was introduced to market in July 2019 and Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018 was launched in July 2018. There is 12 months difference between MacBook Pro 13 2019 and MacBook Pro 15 2018 so it would still give an advantage to younger MacBook Pro 13 2019.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

MacBook Pro 13 2019 and MacBook Pro 15 2018 are members of Apple's MacBook Pro series of laptops. Below you can find the latest models from this series.

Apple MacBook Pro Series History

	Release Date	Screen Size	Dimensions	Weight
Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023	October 2023	14.2"	312.6 x 221.2 x 15.5 mm	1.55 kg (3.42 lbs)
Apple MacBook Pro 16 M3, 2023	October 2023	16.2"	355.7 x 248.1 x 16.8 mm	2.14 kg (4.72 lbs)
Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023	January 2023	16.2"	355.7 x 248.1 x 16.8 mm	2.15 kg (4.74 lbs)
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023	January 2023	14.2"	312.6 x 221.2 x 15.5 mm	1.6 kg (3.53 lbs)
Apple MacBook Pro 13 M2 2022	June 2022	13.3"	304.1 x 212.4 x 15.6 mm	1.4 kg (3.09 lbs)
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021	October 2021	14.2"	312.6 x 221.2 x 15.5 mm	1.6 kg (3.53 lbs)
Apple MacBook Pro 16 2021	October 2021	16.2"	355.7 x 248.1 x 16.8 mm	2.1 kg (4.63 lbs)
Apple MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020	November 2020	13.3"	304.1 x 212.4 x 15.6 mm	1.37 kg (3.02 lbs)

Here is a brief look at the main features of Apple MacBook Pro 13 2019 and Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Apple MacBook Pro 13 2019 Key Specs

Launched in July 2019
13.3" IPS LCD, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i5 8257U
GPU: Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645
8GB Ram
304.1 x 212.4 x 14.9 mm (11.97 x 8.36 x 0.59 inches)
Weight: 1.37 kg (3.02 lbs)

Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018 Key Specs

Launched in July 2018
15.4" IPS LCD, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i7 8750H
GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 630
16GB Ram
349.3 x 240.7 x 15.5 mm (13.75 x 9.48 x 0.61 inches)
Weight: 1.83 kg (4.04 lbs)

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how MacBook Pro 13 2019 and MacBook Pro 15 2018 compares and decide which one is better for you.

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Apple MacBook Pro 13 2019 over Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018

Weight	1.37 kg vs 1.83 kg	0.46 kg lighter
Noise Level	41.8 dB vs 47 dB	Less fan noise
Contrast Rate	1524:1 vs 1333:1	more pleasing colors
Screen PPI	227 ppi vs 221 ppi	More pixels per inch
GPU FLOPS	0.81 TFLOPS vs 0.38 TFLOPS

Reasons to choose Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018 over Apple MacBook Pro 13 2019

Screen-to-Body Ratio	~81.8% vs ~79.4%	Larger screen area ratio
Display Size	15.4 inches vs 13.3 inches	Larger Screen Estate
Screen Resolution	2880 x 1800 pixels vs 2560 x 1600 pixels	Higher pixel count screen
Adobe RGB Profile	86.6% vs 78.4%	Wider Adobe RGB Coverage
RAM Type	DDR4 vs LPDDR3	Faster RAM Type
Speaker Loudness	85 dB vs 79.7 dB	Generates higher sound levels
Bluetooth	v5 vs v4.2	More advanced Bluetooth connectivity
Number of USB-C Ports	4x USB 3.1 vs 2x USB 3.1	Connect more device at the same time
Touchpad Size	16.0 x 9.9 cm vs 13.4 x 8.1 cm	Larger Touchpad Area

Common Strengths of Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018 and Apple MacBook Pro 13 2019

HDR Support	Yes, HDR10 vs Yes, HDR10	Watch HDR Clips
Fast Charging Support	Yes vs Yes	Charge the battery in a shorter time
USB Power Delivery	Yes vs Yes	Charging via USB port gives flexibility
Charging Port Position	Left, Right vs Left, Right	Flexible charging positions
SSD Type	NVMe vs NVMe	Faster Data Transfers
Dolby Atmos Support	Yes vs Yes	3D Surround Sound Support
Fingerprint Sensor	Yes vs Yes	Easy Login with Fingerprint Sensor
Thunderbolt Port	v3 vs v3	Fast data and power transfer via Thunderbolt Port
VGA Output	No vs No	Connect to External Displays via VGA cable
Keyboard Backlight	Yes vs Yes	Easily see the keys under low light

Common Weaknesses of Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018 and Apple MacBook Pro 13 2019

Touchscreen Capability	No vs No	No Touchscreen Capability
Upgradable RAM	No vs No	No Option to increase the RAM size
Upgradable Storage	No vs No	No Option to increase the Storage size
HDMI Output	No vs No	Need an adapter to connect to HDMI displays

Apple MacBook Pro 13 2019 vs Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the Apple MacBook Pro 13 2019 and the Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018.

Physical Specs
Weight	1.37 kg (3.02 lbs)	1.83 kg (4.04 lbs)
Surface Area	646 cm2 (100.1 inches2)	841 cm2 (130.4 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~79.4%	~81.8%
Side Bezel Thickness	~8.8 mm	~8.8 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.10 kg/inch	0.12 kg/inch
	0.22 lbs/inch	0.264 lbs/inch
Colors	Silver, Gray	Silver, Gray

Comparison of the Apple MacBook Pro 13 2019 and the Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018 External Dimensions

Weight

MacBook Pro 13 2019 weighs 1.37 kg (3.02 lbs), whereas the MacBook Pro 15 2018 weighs 1.83 kg (4.04 lbs). There is a notable difference in weight between these two laptops. However, it's important to consider that comparing their weights directly may not provide a complete picture since they also have different display sizes.

Weight Comparison

Apple MacBook Pro 13 2019

Avg: 13.0-13.9"

Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018

Avg: 15.0-15.9"

Thickness Comparison

Apple MacBook Pro 13 2019

Avg: 13.0-13.9"

Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018

Avg: 15.0-15.9"

Another value that we use for comparing the weights of the laptops is the Weight per Inch of Screen, which is calculated by dividing the total weight of the model with its usable diagonal screen size. This value for the Apple MacBook Pro 13 2019 is 0.10 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018 is 0.12 kg/inch.Here are some of the best performing laptops in this area:

Microsoft Surface Go 4: 0.05 kg/inch
LG Gram SuperSlim 15.6 2023: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ13 HT5306: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus Zenbook A14 UX3407: 0.06 kg/inch
Microsoft Surface Pro 12: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ14 HT7407: 0.06 kg/inch
Dell Latitude 7330: 0.07 kg/inch
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2: 0.07 kg/inch

Apple MacBook Pro 13 2019 vs Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018: Internals Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	Intel Core i5 8257U Intel Core i5 8279U Intel Core i7 8557U	Intel Core i7 8750H Intel Core i7 8850H Intel Core i9 8950HK
Base Frequency	1.4 GHz	2.2 GHz
Turbo Frequency	3.9 GHz	4.1 GHz
Number of Cores	4	6
Number of Threads	8	12
L3 Cache	6 MB	9 MB
Integrated GPU	Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645	Intel UHD Graphics 630
CPU Fabrication Process	14 nm	14 nm

Above you can see the CPU options and the CineBench and GeekBench test scores for both laptops, which gives an idea about what kind of performance difference you may experience between the Apple MacBook Pro 13 2019 and Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018.

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645	Intel UHD Graphics 630
Base Clock Frequency	300 MHz	350 MHz
Boost CLock Frequency	1050 MHz	1200 MHz
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	15 W	15 W
Type	Integrated	Integrated
FLOPS	0.81 TFLOPS	0.38 TFLOPS
Memory Size	System Shared	System Shared
Memory Type	LPDDR3	DDR4
Memory Bus	System Shared	System Shared
Memory Speed	2.13 Gbps	2.4 Gbps
Shading Units Cores	384	192
TMUs	48	24
ROPs	6	3

GPU is as critical as the CPU for graphic heavy applications and the table above gives a picture of how the two GPU compares. FLOPS is a measure of a GPU's performance based on the number of floating-point arithmetic calculations that the processor can perform within a second. Apple MacBook Pro 13 2019 has a FLOPS value of 0.81 TFLOPS whereas the Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018 ' has a FLOPS value of 0.38 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the Apple MacBook Pro 13 2019 may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	8GB 16GB	16GB 32GB
RAM Clock	2133 MHz	2400 MHz
RAM Type	LPDDR3	DDR4
Upgradable	No	No
Total Slots	2	2

The MacBook Pro 15 2018 provides a larger RAM capacity of 16 GB, which allows for smoother multitasking and improved performance in memory-demanding tasks compared to the MacBook Pro 13 2019's RAM capacity of 8 GB.

LOCAL LLM Compatibility Evaluation

This quick guide shows what types of large language models (LLMs) each of these laptops could support, based on their respective hardware specifications. It's meant to help you compare their suitability for running AI models locally.

LLM Category	Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2019)	Apple MacBook Pro 15 (2018)
CPU	Intel Core i5 8257U	Intel Core i7 8750H
GPU	Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645	Intel UHD Graphics 630
Memory	8 GB	16 GB
Available for LLM total	~3.5 GB (3.5 GB RAM)	~10.5 GB (10.5 GB RAM)
Small Models (1-3B): Examples: Phi-2, Qwen-1.8B Requires ~2 GB memory	⚠ Borderline / Slow fits in your 3.5 GB RAM	! Not Practical fits in your 10.5 GB RAM
Medium Models (7-8B): Examples: Mistral-7B, Qwen-7B Requires ~5 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	! Not Practical fits in your 10.5 GB RAM
Large Models
13-15B Models (e.g., Llama 3 14B, Qwen1.5 14B) Requires ~9 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	! Not Practical fits in your 10.5 GB RAM
16-24B Models (e.g., Dense 20B Q4 ~15.5GB) Requires ~14 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
24-30B Models (e.g., Dense 30B Q4) Requires ~18 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
MoE Models (Mixture-of-Experts) (e.g., Mixtral 8x7B - total ~47B, active ~12-13B) Requires ~24 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
Extra-Large Models (65B+): Examples: LLaMA2-70B, Qwen1.5-72B Requires ~42 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM

For more detailed LLM evaluation (subcategories, performance ranges, memory breakdown)

Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2019)|Apple MacBook Pro 15 (2018)

Note: Optimized (e.g., 4-bit) models may run on limited hardware. Performance depends on runtime and setup.

📌 Model Types: Dense 30B Q4 models typically require around 19–22 GB of total VRAM, so they run best on systems with ≥24 GB VRAM. MoE models like Mixtral 8x7B (≈47B total parameters, usually ≈23–26 GB in 4-bit) also need high memory because all experts must be loaded, even though only a few are active per token. They reduce compute cost per token (similar to a ~12–13B dense model), but not memory usage, so they are not practical on 14–16 GB systems.

🚀 Modern NPU (Neural Processing Unit): Modern processors like AMD Ryzen AI and Intel Core Ultra feature NPU and unified memory architecture. NPUs provide modest performance gains (0-30% faster) with better power efficiency compared to iGPU-only execution. Real-world tests show ~3-10 tok/s range on 13B models with 32GB RAM (varies by runtime, quantization, and context), comparable to iGPU but more power-efficient. Note: These figures are examples from various NPU systems; actual performance depends on your specific hardware configuration.

Understanding Performance Categories

The performance descriptions use general categories because actual speed varies greatly based on your specific hardware, model optimization, context length, and runtime software.

Performance Level	Typical Range	User Experience
Runs Smoothly (High-end dGPU)	50+ tok/s	Real-time response. Feels instant, like ChatGPT.
Runs Well (Mid-range dGPU)	20-50 tok/s	Good interactive performance. Slight delay, but usable.
Modest Speed (iGPU/NPU/CPU)	5-20 tok/s	Usable for tasks that don't need instant responses. Noticeable typing delay.
Borderline / Slow (Limited hardware)	2-5 tok/s	Slow-Very slow. Patience required. Better for batch processing.
Not Practical	<2 tok/s	Too slow for regular use. May cause system hangs or instability.

💡 Tip: Your actual results may be higher or lower than these ranges. Test with your specific hardware to know for sure!

⚠️ Note: Performance categorization is based on VRAM capacity and RAM fallback status. GPU type (memory bandwidth, compute power) can also affect actual performance. Currently, we prioritize whether the model fits in VRAM or requires RAM fallback for classification. We may refine this categorization in future updates based on more detailed benchmarks.

BATTERY

BATTERY	58 Wh	83 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Po	Li-Po
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	No	No
USB Power Delivery	Yes	Yes
Charging Port Position	Left, Right	Left, Right
Charge Power	61 W	87 W
Voltage	12.96 V	11.4 V
Full Charging Time	2:00 hr	2:00 hr
Cable Length	2 meters	2 meters
AC Adapter Weight	275 gramm	369 gramm

On the other hand, the MacBook Pro 15 2018 features a higher battery capacity of 83 Wh, delivering longer usage time compared to the MacBook Pro 13 2019's 58 Wh.

Battery Comparison

Apple MacBook Pro 13 2019

Avg: 13.0-13.9"

Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018

Avg: 15.0-15.9"

STORAGE
The MacBook Pro 15 2018 offers a larger max storage capacity of 4 TB, providing more room for storing files and data compared to the MacBook Pro 13 2019's storage capacity of 2 TB.

Storage Options	256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB	256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB
Upgradable	No	No
Storage type	SSD (M2)	SSD (M2)
NVMe	Yes	Yes
Memory Bus	Custom	Custom

If your budget allows, we recommend opting for the largest possible disk size, considering the potential increase in storage capacity needs in the future. However, please keep in mind the question 'What will the laptop be used for?' when making this decision. Of course, you can later upgrade the hard disk capacity by getting a larger disk. However, if your laptop has only one disk slot, it may not be as straightforward as a RAM upgrade, where you simply add or replace a module, as moving or cloning files to a new disk may be necessary.

Apple MacBook Pro 13 2019 vs Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the Apple MacBook Pro 13 2019 and Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018 since its is the component that you interact the most and significantly impact the experience.

Screen Area and Dimensions

Now let's look at the comparison of the actual display areas of both laptops below, keeping the bezels around the screens out of the equation. MacBook Pro 13 2019 has a display size of 13.3".On the other hand, MacBook Pro 15 2018 has a larger15.4" display.The total usable screen area of the MacBook Pro 13 2019 is 513cm² / 80inch² whereas the MacBook Pro 15 2018's total usable screen area is 688cm² / 107inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Additionally, the MacBook Pro 13 2019 features a higher pixel density with 227 pixels per inch (PPI), ensuring sharper image details.

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Apple MacBook Pro 13 2019

Avg: 13.0-13.9"

Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018

Avg: 15.0-15.9"

Refresh Rate
Both MacBook Pro 13 2019 and MacBook Pro 15 2018 offer the same refresh rate of 60 Hz.

Both MacBook Pro 13 2019 and MacBook Pro 15 2018 boast the same response time of 35.0 ms.

Brightness
Both MacBook Pro 13 2019 and MacBook Pro 15 2018 offer the same maximum brightness of 500 nits (cd/m²).

Brightness Comparison

Apple MacBook Pro 13 2019

Avg: 13.0-13.9"

Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018

Avg: 15.0-15.9"

Apple MacBook Pro 13 2019 vs Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018 Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Both laptops offer the same Wi-Fi standard (v5), ensuring fast and reliable wireless connections.

Below, you'll find a Wi-Fi Versions Table, along with their release dates and speeds, to provide a brief overview of its development.

Wi-Fi Versions and Speeds

Standard	Speed	Release Date	Network	Frequency Bands (GHz)
Wi-Fi 7	up to 40 Gbps (5 GB/s)	2023	802.11be	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6E	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2020	802.11ax	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2019	802.11ax	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 5	up to 6.93 Gbps (866.25 MB/s)	2014	802.11ac	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 4	up to 600 Mbps (75 MB/s)	2009	802.11n	2.4, 5

* Please note that the provided transfer rates are maximum theoretical values, and real-life performance may vary based on environmental factors.

USB
Neither MacBook Pro 13 2019 nor MacBook Pro 15 2018 has USB-A ports.
Both MacBook Pro 13 2019 and MacBook Pro 15 2018 have USB Type-C ports. MacBook Pro 13 2019 has 2x USB 3.1 USB Type-C ports, while MacBook Pro 15 2018 has 4x USB 3.1 USB Type-C ports.

Below, you'll find a table of USB ports, along with their release dates and speeds.
To mitigate the confusion caused by generation names, the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) suggests using marketing names like USB 5Gbps, USB 10Gbps, and so forth, based on their respective transfer rates.

USB Type and Speeds

USB Type	Version	Speed	Date	Other Features/Explanations
USB4	Gen 4 (2.0)	80 Gbps	2022	Also known as USB 80Gbps
USB4	Gen 3×2	40 Gbps	2019	Also known as USB 40Gbps
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2x2	20 Gbps	2019	Double the data transfer rates of Gen 2
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.1
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.0
USB 3.1	3.1 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2013	Faster data transfer rates
USB 3.0	3.1 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2010	SuperSpeed USB, improved data transfer rates
USB 2.0	2.0	480 Mbps	2000	High-speed data transfer
USB 1.0	1.0	1.5 Mbps	1996	Original USB standard

Thunderbolt
Both MacBook Pro 13 2019 and MacBook Pro 15 2018 are equipped with Thunderbolt 3 ports.

HDMI
Neither MacBook Pro 13 2019 nor MacBook Pro 15 2018 has an HDMI port for connecting to external monitors. Neither MacBook Pro 13 2019 nor MacBook Pro 15 2018 has an HDMI port for connecting to external monitors.

Below, you'll find a comparison table detailing different HDMI versions, including their bandwidth, color depth, maximum resolution, and release dates. This information can be helpful in understanding the capabilities of each HDMI version and choosing the most suitable one for your needs.

HDMI Comparison Table

HDMI Version	Maximum Resolution	Bandwidth (Gbps)	Color Depth (bits)	Release Date
HDMI 2.1-2.1b	7680 x 4320 *(8K)* @ 60p 3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 120p	48.0	48	2017
HDMI 2.0-2.0b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 60p	18.0	48	2013
HDMI 1.4-1.4b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 30p	10.2	48	2009
HDMI 1.3-1.3a	2560 x 1440 @ 60p	10.2	48	2006
HDMI 1.0-1.2a	1920 x 1200 @ 60p	4.95	24	2002

* Please note that the provided resolution values represent the maximum supported resolution, and actual display quality may depend on other factors such as source content and connected devices.

SD Card Reader
Neither MacBook Pro 13 2019 nor MacBook Pro 15 2018 has an SD Card Reader.

Audio Jack
Both MacBook Pro 13 2019 and MacBook Pro 15 2018 are equipped with a 3.5mm Audio Jack, providing seamless connection to headphones and speakers.

To summarize the connectivity and ports details, please refer to the table below to see them listed.

Connectivity and Ports
WiFi Standard (latest: v7)	v5	v5
Bluetooth (latest: v6.2)	v4.2	v5
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	No	No
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	2x USB 3.1	4x USB 3.1
Thunderbolt (latest: 5)	Thunderbolt 3	Thunderbolt 3
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	No	No
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	No	No
VGA	No	No
Fingerprint Sensor	Yes	Yes
Optical Drive	No	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	Yes	Yes
Ethernet RJ45	No	No
SD CardReader	No	No
Proprietary Charging Port	No	No